Hillman Betters Indoor Showing, Takes 5th At #USATF

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Iowa State women's shot putter Christina Hillman was back in the ring today, competing at the 2014 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The two-time NCAA Champion took fifth in the competition, improving on her sixth-place showing at the USA indoor meet this past March.

Hillman’s top throw of the day competition came on her third attempt, hurling a distance of 57 feet, 10.25 inches. The Dover, Delaware, native finished the prelims with the No. 3 overall mark, easily qualifying for the night’s final, in which the remaining competitors would reset with the standard three-attempt semifinal and three-attempt final.

The Cyclone started preliminary competition in sixth place after an opening throw of 54’9.25” (16.69m). Hillman then improved her mark on her next two throws, hitting distances of 56’0.5” (17.08m) and 57’10.25” to move into fifth, and eventually third place entering the semifinals.

From the semifinal rounds, the top eight placers would move on to the finals. Hillman posted marks of 56’10” (17.32m) and 56’10.75” (17.34m) before scratching on her third throw. The two-time Big 12 champion sat in fifth place entering the final three throws and would hold in that position through the end of competition.

Hillman posted a mark of 54’10.75” (16.73m) on her opening toss and returned to the upper-56’ range on second. Her final throw of the day yielded slightly better results, improving her mark to 57’1.5” (17.41m), but her standing remained at No. 5 in the competition.

Hillman was the No. 2 collegian in the field behind Wisconsin’s Kelsey Card, who posted a mark of 58’3.75”. Nike’s Michelle Carter took the victory with a title-winning throw of 63’9.75” (19.45m).